Vegas, baby, is about location and the Mirage has it
Written: May 26 '08
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A solid, professional operation; decent rates, great location.
Cons: Typical Vegas negatives, no flat screen TV, lots of walking.
The Bottom Line: The Mirage is a solid Vegas hotel and if you are happy with the room rate, this hotel will meet your needs. The location gives it an edge.
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| smoke11's Full Review: The Mirage Hotel And Casino |
I like Las Vegas. That’s something a lot of business travelers don’t like to say. But you never feel like a sad case eating dinner alone in a restaurant. The place was built for business travelers.
I am in Vegas at least four to five times a year for various conferences. I travel from the East Coast but it’s an easy trip to deal with because the flights are typically direct and the airport is close to The Strip. Vegas works in the ways that matter if you are time sensitive. And Vegas usually cost less than a conference in New York, San Francisco, or any of the other major cities.
On this trip I stayed three nights at The Mirage. It is considered one of The Strip's “megaresorts” with 3,044 rooms. My mid-week rate in May was $260.51 (which includes $21.51 in taxes) for the first night, and two nights at $107.91 (adds in $8.91 for taxes). This averages out to about $159 for each night, which is, in my experience at least, a somewhat typical rate. If I can get a room rate of around $129, I’m happier. If I had booked a little earlier, instead of two weeks prior, I may have made out better.
The Mirage is owned by the huge MGM Mirage company, and some of the other Strip properties it owns (which I have stayed at) include the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, Luxor, New York New York. I’ve never stayed at the Bellagio, which is part of this chain.
This was my second stay at The Mirage. The room I got here was typical Vegas convention working class style: regular TV (not flat screen), mini-bar, marble this and that bathrooms, clean, comfortable beds, good air systems -- very serviceable. I had no complaints. These are professional operations and on the few times I’ve needed something over the years – new light bulb or TV remote – service has always been quick. The hotels are generally very accommodating about meeting my top request, which is getting a non-smoking room. I did not use the room Internet connect, and instead relied on my Verizon wireless card. Connection strength was a solid four bars from the eighth floor.
In real estate the old adage is location, location and location, and the same applies to Vegas. The Mandalay Bay/Luxor complex, for instance, has a many shops and restaurants and it’s a big favorite for conventions, but it’s at the airport end of the Strip and not pedestrian friendly. It is for that reason that a favorite hotel for me is The Monte Carlo, about mid-Strip. It isn’t as fancy as Mandalay, but there are a couple of drug stores, CVS and Walgreens close by (the little things matter a lot with me) and there’s a movie theater across the street (Which is great, especially if I’ve flown in on Sunday).
The Mirage also has a lot going for it in terms of location. It’s right next door to The Forum Shops at Caesars, which is a full-sized mall with some of my favorite places, including a Sony Style shop, Banana Republic (Ok, I admit it). On the opposite side of The Mirage, a little further down and not a far walk, is the Fashion Mall, a standard suburban-style shopping mall with a range of stores from pricey to normal, including places such as Macy’s Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Dillard's. If you want to decompress from the casino noise, I highly recommend the Fashion Mall.
Across the street from The Mirage are some national chain restaurants, including a Denny’s, which I had breakfast at. Very good and fast service.
Getting there: It cost about $22 to get from the airport to the hotel, which was the work of a “long hauler” taxi cab. I was steamed, but said nothing and just paid. My trip from the hotel to the airport was about $13. I rarely pay more than $16-$17, tip included to a Strip hotel. If you get charged north of $20 on the meter, you can argue and give the driver $16 or so and tell him if he doesn’t like it to call the police. (This is advice I’ve gotten from cabbies and not advice that I've followed. I hate bad Karma routines.) At the Airport, the Nevada Taxi Cab Authority has uniformed officers there who will check for long haulers.
Once inside: The front desk was professional, efficient and friendly. It’s a walk from the front desk to the room elevators and you’ll likely need directions. These hotels can be confusing, especially if you are searching for a street exit; just ask someone.
I really don’t gamble but there’s little difference, from what I can tell, from casino to casino. They all look a like to me.
I usually eat at the conferences, but I did have dinner twice and breakfast at the Carnegie Deli. Reasonably priced, great service and decent food but there was too much of it. I ordered a tuna sandwich and fries one night. The sandwich was stacked 6” high and the fries came on a serving platter. A mountain of food and a little excessive, in my view, but if you are sharing the fries well, then, you are in great shape (no pun intended).
There’s a California Pizza Kitchen on site, and large assortment of restaurants as well as cafes for coffee. The store by the guest elevators is well stocked and always seems to have the newspapers I want on hand.
Bottom line on The Mirage, if you can get the room rate you want, you’ll likely be pleased with the hotel. There’s some interesting entertainment areas alongside its abundant tropical gardens, including one that has a lot of natural light, a plus for Vegas casino area. And the location is perfect. There’s a lot do just outside the door.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
smoke11
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Location: Washington DC
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 9 members
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